Grand Prix 2018 Austrian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

There will be a car in Austria this weekend that should be regarded as one of the most famous ever made. It's a silver-grey colour and in most respects not that remarkable. The chap who drove around in it was an extremely divisive figure. Arrogant and authoritarian, loved by many but equally hated by a good many as well.

Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes?

No.

The car in question sits in the Museum of Military History in Vienna. It's a Graf and Stift Automobile and was the car in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife Sophie were murdered on the 28th of June 1914. Just 30 days later and the powers of Europe entered into a war that in four years would see around 31 million (just get that number around your head) people who had taken up arms, killed, wounded or missing in action and the deaths of around 8 million civilians.

At the end of the war, the so-called war to end all wars, Europe was left shattered and broken. The victorious powers took their revenge on the Central powers, dismantling the old orders, pulling apart the Austro-Hungarian empire and in the Treaty of Versailles, attempting to ensure such a thing could never happen again.

The disaffected soldiers of the Central Powers returned home to find a collapsed economy, fragile leadership and no real hope. While the great depression badly affected the globe, it created in central Europe the seeds for another power to rise. The leader of the National Socialists was a down on his luck, former Army Corporal, born in Austria but now settled in Munich. His rise to power has been well documented.

After the second world war the Allied Powers showed they had learnt their lesson from the failures of Versailles and a great deal of effort went in to re-building German industry. Great car makers such as Daimler-Benz and Volkswagen were soon turning out vehicles at an impressive rate. Mercedes dominated for a few years in Formula 1, taking back their place at the head of Grand Prix racing they'd held with their great rivals Auto Union during the inter war years.

Austria had never produced formula 1 cars but they certainly produced great drivers and two of the best known were the 1970 world champion Jochen Rindt and the triple world champion Niki Lauda.

Then in 1987, a drinks company was formed in Austria, modifying an energy drink already on sale in the far east, it became known worldwide as Red Bull. Already involved in sponsoring F1 cars, they eventually purchased the remains of the Jaguar team in 2004 and in 2005, Red Bull Racing was born. Much like Benetton before them, Red Bull took a while to establish themselves in F1, all this changed when along came a German. One Sebastian Vettel. Quickly taking the team to the top step of the podium and then on to drivers and constructors world championships, Austria could now lay claim to having both World Champion Drivers and a World Champion team. Something that America, the great bastion of the motor car cannot yet claim.

Red Bull saw an opportunity to bring F1 back to Austria in the shape of the Red Bull Ring. Formally known as the A1 Ring and before that, the fearsome, Osterreichring and it is here that we will find ourselves this weekend.

Finally, one last bizarre fact that will take us back to where we started.

The First World War ended on the 11th of November 1918. The 100th anniversary will be this year.

The 11th of November 1918 can be written as 11/11/18

The registration plate of the car in which the Archduke was killed?

A111118

Bizarre but true.
 
Clay yes I meant higher downforce.

Okay, they were just my thoughts.


As is everything else that’s written on CTA, I can’ think of a single person who’s actually qualified to give us the facts, unless of course we have actual members from each team masquerading as CTA members. Your opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s racecub.
IMO. :)
 
As is everything else that’s written on CTA, I can’ think of a single person who’s actually qualified to give us the facts, unless of course we have actual members from each team masquerading as CTA members. Your opinion is just as valid as anyone else’s racecub.
IMO. :)
The transcripts aren’t my opinion, but publicly available information that illustrate the situation at hand between the two Red Bull drivers and consequently facts.
 
OK. Time for some of Raspy's notoriously bad predictions (stand by to rub them in my face teabagyokel):

Grosjean to not score any points

Kimi to lose places on the grid

Bottas to look set for the win but some mysterious problem means he slows and Lewis wins

Thestrappon to get driver of the day for a podium but not really do anything impressive despite the accolades.

Alonso to say something comical and saving on the radio.

Vettel to be investigated for something.
Well as "Russian" to "Russian" got to respond this this now that we know the results ;)

1. Ah no....he got points.
2. Ah no....he finished second and regained the positions that he lost.
3. Ah no....did have a not so mysterious problem and Lewis did not win.
4. Ah no....Actually Verstappen drove a good race. The bump and pass maneuver on Raikonnen was really clever.
5. Actually, I don't remember any Alonso broadcasts.
6. Ah no....for a change Vettel did not touch wheels that often.

So.....got any predictions for the U.S. real estate market for the next couple of years.
 
5. Alonso said something like "well don't expect me to be driving round at the back for 71 laps."
Heroic.
 
Well, I actually found that race interesting from beginning to end. Not a great race, but better than the last two.

1. Verstappen drove a great race...did a nice "bump and pass" maneuver on Raikonnen, had good pace, preserved his tires, etc. It was a very mature drive. It looks like he is back, and when he is, he is pretty damn impressive.
2. Raikonnen actually looked like he was trying....a lot. Dynamic and exciting on the start and would have won the race if he had not been "bumped" by Verstappen in the race. If this Raikonnen showed up at 21 races a year, I would say Ferrari should continue to employ him.
3. Vettel. Perfectly capable race, was surprised he did not chase down and pass Raikonnen late in the race.
4. Grosjean: At last !!!!
5. Bottas: Great recovery from 4th to 2nd, but it looked like Hamilton had the lead well covered. Cursed again.
6. Hamilton: Had the race won, team messed it up, but kind of irrelevant as his engine gave out later. As we saw earlier in the season, Ferrari sometimes lasts longer on their tires. His were seriously blistering, condemning him to 4th place (before the engine blew).
7. Attrition: 3 of the top 6 cars died this day. Suspect that was because of the heat. The temperature at Silverstone could be an issue.
8. Leclerc: Even after going off the track on the first lap, still looked impressive. He did a lot of nice passes with almost no drama. Very good drive.
9. Alonso: As always, in the points.
10. Ocon, Perez and Gasly also continue to impress. Would like to see all these guys in top cars (along with Leclerc and of course, Alonso).
11. Ricciardo: I would advise him to go to McLaren. I think Verstappen is the #1 driver at Red Bull, and the team is completely behind him. It will become the Vettel-Webber contest again. When Vestappen has his act together, he just looks faster than Ricciardo.
12. I actually like the 3 races in three weekends. Looking forward to Silverstone.
 
No. Kimi was 4th at the end of lap 1 so 2 out of 6 :p

I told you I was notoriously bad at predictions. There have been some epic fails. Rosberg will never win a grand Prix springs to mind.
 
Can I just say that the track is far too short. An F1 circuit where the lap time is close to 65 seconds is just crazy.
 
Can I just say that the track is far too short. An F1 circuit where the lap time is close to 65 seconds is just crazy.


I agree. I even commented during the race that they needed to expand the track. Needs a couple of more interesting sections.
 
No. Kimi was 4th at the end of lap 1 so 2 out of 6 :p

I told you I was notoriously bad at predictions. There have been some epic fails. Rosberg will never win a grand Prix springs to mind.

Well, that is the danger of predictions. At least you are brave enough to make them.
 
Really enjoyed that race couldnt call a winner ever since the bottas vsc. best race since china for me. Fantastic drive from Verstappen. Not sure whether someone has a chat or penny has dropped, he seems to be maturing very good at turn 2 when instead of sticking down the inside of kimi, learning to not win at the 1st corner let race come to him.

i was shocked at the reliability & partically Mercedes. Because Mercedes are usually bulletproof. Did 1800+ miles with both cars without a failure to either engine or gearbox til last weekend in France when they finally changed. Lewis had 33 consecutive point finishes. according to crofty it was 7yrs & 3mths ago since the last time both Mercedes DNF at 2011 Australian gp & even other teams confusing with 3 different Manufacturers Renault Mercedes & Honda. Because they have raced in much hotter temperatures than this in Monza Singapore & Malaysia. without reliability it is a mute point but Mercedes haven't learnt their lesson Strategy has always been the Achilles heel of the Mercedes team. because virtual safety car or full safety car, cost them the win in china, as again red bull sharper & beat them then. Even back when they were dominating in 2014 & 2015. That was known but it was rare a team could put them in that situation

great drive from haas drivers. finally got the 4th & 5th they should've had in Australia. Leclerc after his rallying excursions of opening lap another cracking drive 5 consecutive points finishes I believe. You can tell me to shut up. If this is going to be late addition to British gp quiz. But when was the last grand prix the only drivers who werent lapped finished on the podium

also now time to crack on with british thread. which is always late as I work during European races :D
 
Last edited:
I agree. I even commented during the race that they needed to expand the track. Needs a couple of more interesting sections.

I would disagree FB because I like the short nature of the circuit because in way it is 1 of the toughest circuits on the calendar. because its 63 seconds for a pole lap. its unrelenting with the high average speed as well, corners come at you all the time. & its a world championship. so you want circuits of all types from spa 1:50 to Austria 1:03 or Monza 75mins to Singapore 2hrs +
 
*tin foil hat time*

An unusual strategy call, an unusual double retirement and a harsh driver penalty in quali make sure we get an unexpected Red Bull win at their home circuit? Good for the 'show' after a few dull races. Huh? Huh? Who's with me? No one? OK.
 
Back
Top Bottom